False twist spindle assembly



Jan. 22, 1963 Filed April 5, 1961 R. G. HILBERT FALSE TWIST SPINDLE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3o 52 as 15 9s 9? I06 9| 14 so as 72 D 36 64 76 94 2: m o i 92 3a 40 :fsa 70 3 6 2: F O 1 #2 g: 4 I 56 4' l2 52 so 42 54 42 48 I so 42 FIG. 3

' INVENTOR.

H6 2 RICHARD G. HILBERT ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1963 R. s. HILBERT 3,074,226

FALSE TWIST SPINDLE ASSEMBLY Filed April 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

INVENTOR. RICHARD G. HILBERT ATTORNEY United rates Filed Apr. 5, 191,S91'.N0. 100,875 9 Claims. (Cl. 57-7145 The present invention relates to a false twist spindle assembly and more particularly relates to an improved mounting means for such an assembly.

It is usual for a false twist spindle to be comprised of a rotatable blade suitably journaled for rotation and adapt-ed to receive a running strand of yarn. Commonly, the blade is so mounted that it can engage frictionally with one side of a movable endless belt so that, as the belt is driven, the spindle will cooperatively rotate therewith to twist the yarn strand.

It will be quite apparent that with the spindle blade set against a given surface of the belt the direction in which the spindle is rotated will be determined by the direction in which the belt is driven. It follows that the rotational direction of the spindle itself will be determinative of the direction in which the yarn strand is twisted.

Prior to the present invention false twist spindles were mounted in more or less permanent positions to be driven either by one side of an endless belt or the other. The only practical means heretofore known for changing the direction of spindle rotation to thereby change the direction in which the yarn is twisted was to reverse the direction of the driving belt. It will be obvious that this manner of altering the direction of the rotation of the spindle, and thus the direction of twist in the yarn, imposed severe limitations on the utilization of a particular machine. This will be made more significant when it is borne in mind that false twist spindles are normally ganged in relatively large groups organized along both sides of a textile machine to be driven by a single belt. Thus, reversal of any of the spindles involved reversal of all of the spindles of a given machine.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved spindle mounting means for a textile machine which permits mounting said spindle for operation against a driving belt.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved spindle mounting means for a textile machine wherein said spindle may be mounted for rotation from either surface of the driving belt.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved spindle mounting means for a textile machine which permits easy removal of the spindle therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved spindle mounting means for a textile machine which admits of easy and rapid engagement and disen-' gagement of a spindle with its associated driving belt.

Other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

atent:

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a false twist spindle of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along lines III---III of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a view along lines IVIV of FIG. 2 and illustrating the spindle disengaged from one side of its driving belt;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the spindle engaged against the driving belt;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the spindle in its disengaged position at the opposite side of the driving belt.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the spindle engaged with the driving belt; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the spindle mounting means of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is disclosed. The apparatus preferably includes a plurality of substantially identical units mounted side by side on an elongated frame, each unit including a false twist spindle adapted to be driven by a single belt and means for mounting those spindles to selectively contact said belt. Inasmuch as the gang mounting of false twist spindles on textile machines is well known in the art, and the units described herein are substantially identical, only one unit of the apparatus will be explained in detail together with such other details as are necessary to a complete understanding of the present invention.

The present invention is illustrated in association with a machine known in the textile art as an uptwister such as is ordinarily employed in twisting yarns.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vertical frame member 10 is positioned firmly on the floor and supports one end of a horizontal right angular member 12. It will be understood that a support similar to 12 is provided at the other end of the machine. Horizontal beam 14 is supported by member 10 above member 12 and serves to mount a plurality of feed roll assemblies, generally indicated by reference numeral 16, one of said feed roll assemblies 16 being spaced along the beam 14 at each twisting position. Traversing rod 18, supported for reciprocation in member 10, is situated substantially in horizontal alignment with member 12, but is spaced forward therefrom. A plurality of yarn guides 20 are held fast on rod 18, one

guide 20 being spaced in alignment with each twisting position. The y-arn guides 24} are moved by reciprocation of traversing rod 18 which in turn is reciprocated by any suitable means, not herein illustrated, to traverse a run ning strand of yarn onto a rotating spool or package P.

A fixed rod 22 positioned in front of traverse rod 18 serves to guide a running strand of yarn into suitable engagement with yarn guide 20.

A shaft 24, journaled for rotation in member 10, provides a mounting for driving rollers 26, one of such driving rollers being spaced at each winding position to drive package P in a well known manner.

Up to this point the description has been confined to elements commonly associated with an uptwister. The

foregoing elements do not form a part of the present invention but, rather are presented herein for purposes of clarity and to a complete understanding of the nature and operation of the present invention.

A plurality of false twist spindles generally indicated by reference numeral 30 are spaced along member 12, in contact with an endless driving belt 31 adapted to drive said spindle from either of its front or rear sides or surfaces. Each false twist spindle 30 is comprised of a housing block 32 which is generally C-shaped affording an area of exposure for a whorl portion 33 of a spindle blade 34, whereby the blade may be engaged with and rotated by the belt 31. A false twist spindle of the type herein illustrated is fully disclosed in copending application Serial No. 742,234 for High Speed False Twist Spindle. Further details of construction of the false twist spindle .30 are not deemed necessary to a complete understanding of the present invention and are not, therefore, presented herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the main support portion for the false twist spindle 30 is a swingplate 36 rotatable in a horizontal plane about a swingpost 38. In turn swing-post 38 is enclosed substantially by a housing or mounting block 4%. Mounting block 40 is illustrated in PEG. 1 as provided with a clearance step 41a in one configuration and a clearance step 41b in another configuration. It will be understood that all of the mounting blocks 49 are idcnticalin construction but for the clearance steps 4 1a and an; which provide utility and adapt the spindles 35 for closer mounting to 'each other on the uptwister machine and afford the most holes in member 12. Boss 48 provides a smooth path of entry for a running strand of yarn to spindle 30. As

will be seen in FIG. 3 boss 50 receives a depending stem 52 of swing-post 38. Stem 52 is drilled and tapped to receive a bolt 54 which draws the swing-post 38 into mounting block 40. Swing-post 33 comprises, in addition to stem 52. previously referred to, a hub 56 located generally intermediate its terminal ends. An upstanding shaft-like portion .53 extends upwardly from hub 56 and terminates in a section 69 provided with opposing flats projecting from the top of mounting block 46.

A sleeve 62 depends over portion 58 and is supported on nylon bushings 64 and 66. Sleeve 62 includes a hub 68 intergal therewith, the upper surface of hub 68 being reduced to mount swing-plate 36 fast thereon. Hub 68 is rotatable on swing-post 38 to permit swing-plate 36 to be rotated horizontally about swing-post 38. The section of sleeve 62 depending below hub 68 is surrounded by a wear resistant tubular element 70 which, in turn, is encircled by a torsion spring 72. Tubular element 7ft acts to prevent fretting of spring 72 and sleeve 58 which may otherwise occur between these parts during operation of the apparatus. One end of spring 70 is securely connected in hub 56 and the opposing end of said spring is held in engagement with hub 68. A split retaining ring 74 is engaged with swing-post 38 tosecure sleeve 62 thereto.

As previously stated, swing-plate 36 affords amounting for false twist spindle 39. To this end, swing-plate 36 is provided with an'aperture '75 at its free end. The lower or undersurface of swing-plate 36 has a dished retaining spring 76 which surrounds the lower rim of the aperture (see FIG. 8), two opposing sides in the extension of the dish being flatted or parallel as at 77 and being slightly in the path of the aperture. The retaining spring 76 is securelyheld'to swing-plate 36 by a pair of pins 78. It will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 8 that false twist spindle .30 has an annular groove 82 adjacent the lower end of housing 32 which forms a flange 80 on its lowest extremity. Flange 80 is flatted on opposing sides asat 84 whereby said flange may be passed through the aperture on swing-plate 36 with flats 84 thereof in registration with flats 77. Slight rotation of spindle 30 acts to slide flange 80 into contact with retaining spring 76 and secure the spindle to swing-plate 36. A pair of detents 86, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 3, are located on opposing sides of aperture 75 and on the upper surface of swingplate 36, said detent serving to mate with depressions S7 and locate spindle 30 in position on the swing-plate in a preselected position.

In order that the spindle may be moved conveniently into contact with its driving belt 31 and away from contact therewith the following structure is provided. A recess 89 in the upper region of mounting block 40 is spanned by a rotatable arm 90. Arm 90 extends through block 49 and recess 89 and is provided with an enlarged handle 92 for rotation thereof. A member 94, generally a rectangular configuration, is cccentrically fixed on arm 99 in recess 89 by a pin 96. The end of member 94 remote from arm 9%) has formed therein a triangular profile cam 97 defined by a pair of diverging faces 98 and 99. The connecting point of cam faces 98 and 99' is situated midway along the length of said member 94, said conarm 99 so that cam 97 swings counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 3 from a position where it is lying entirely within recess 89 to a position where it is extended out of said recess and toward spindle 39. When so situated outside of recess 39 cam 97 is in its operative position with the greater portion of said cam 97 positioned beyond center,

or beyond a line lying in the vertical axis of arm 90 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

A pair of tapped holes 103 and 164 pass through the surface of swing-plate 36, these holes being adapted to receive a screw which serves as a cam follower 106 which is threaded through one or the other of said holes to depend in the path of cam 97. Thus, as cam 97 is actuated it will be appreciated that contact of either face thereof with follower 106 will cause swing-plate 36 to pivot about its swing-post 38. Obviously, the direction in which plate as pivots will depend on which cam surface, 98 or 99, engages follower 106.

The foregoing apparatus operates in the following manner. For spindle 30 to be operated from the front or outside surface of belt 31 it is necessary that it be positioned on swing-plate 36 with the open side of housing block 32 toward the belt so that whorl 33 of spindle blade 34 may be urged flush against the outside surface of said belt. Housing block 32 is rotated so that spindle blade 34 is facing belt 31 and detent 86 is engaged with the appropriate depression 87 in the base of housing block 32. With the spindle 30 so positioned swingplate 36 must be urged in a clockwise direction as viewed .in FIGS. 4 and 5 in order to contact whorl 33 with belt 31. This is accomplished by pre-tensioning spring 72 in the following manner. With bolt 54 loosened swingpost 38 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. Flatted section 66 affords convenient means for gripping the post for such rotation. When spring 72 is so positioned bolt 54 is drawn tightly against mounting block 40 thereby retaining the spring under its pro-tension. It will be understood with the apparatus arranged in the foregoing manner, swing-plate 36 and spindle 30 will be urged rearwardly toward belt 31. To permit the selective movement of the spindle toward and away from the belt follower 166 is located in the front of forward threaded hole 104 whereby it will be contacted by face 99 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of cam 94 when the cam is rotated counterclockwise to move the spindle away from the belt. Conversely, clockwise r0- tation of the cam permits spring 72 to swing the spindle against the belt.

Alternatively, if it is desired to drive the spindle 30 from the opposite face of belt 30, spindle 30 is placed in its aperture 75 with swing-plate 36 swung to the opposite of the belt. Thereafter spindle 30 is rotated so that blade 34 is facing the Opposing driving surface or side of said belt, see FIGS. 6 and 7. With bolt 54 loose from mounting block 40, spring 72 is pre-tensioned by rotating swing-post 38 in a counterclockwise direction after which bolt 54 is drawn firmly against mounting blade 40 to maintain the pre-tension of the spring. Follower 106 is thereafter threaded through the rear hole 103 of swing-plate 36 to position it for contact with face 98 of cam 94. Again, counterclockwise rotation of cam 97 will move swing-plate 36 rearwardiy to disengage the spindle from the belt and clockwise rotation thereof will permit spring 72 to move the spindle against the belt.

in operation of the unit, lever arm 90 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 to pivot spindle 30 away from belt 31. A strand of yarn Y is drawn from a supply source, not shown, and threaded through spindle blade '34- of blade 30, whereafter it is wrapped around feed roll assembly 15 several times. Next, the yarn is threaded through traverse guide 20' and attached to package P. Driving roller 26 acts to impart rotation to the package for winding the yarn.

When the strand is properly threaded and with driving belt 31 in operation, lever arm 90 is rotated clockwise to allow follower 106 to ride down cam 97 to permit the spindle to contact the belt.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus Without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a twisting machine having a spindle driving belt having front and rear driving surfaces and means for driving said belt, the combination with said belt of a false twist spindle assembly comprising a mounting member adapted to be fixed on said machine adjacent said belt, a single false twist spindle pivotally positioned on said member, means for selectively urging said spindle into driving engagement with said front or rear surface, and means operable to control engagement of said spindle with either side of said driving belt.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling engagement of said spindle with said belt is a cam.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for urging said spindle into driving engagement with said front or rear surface is a resilient means.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said resilient means is a spring.

5. In a twisting machine having a spindle driving belt having front and rear driving surfaces and means for driving said belt the combination with said belt of a false twist spindle assembly comprising a mountlng member adapted to be fixed on said machine adjacent said belt, a pivotal plate carried by said member, a single spindle disposed on said plate, means for selectively urging said plate in a direction to engage said spindle with said front or rear surface, and means operable to control engagement of said spindle with either side of said driving belt.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for controlling engagement of said spindle with either side of said belt is a cam.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 including a cam follower associated with said plate and engageable with said cam.

8. The combination as set forth in said claim 5 wherein said means for urging said plate in a direction to engage the spindle with said front or rear surface is a resilient means.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said resilient means is a spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,837,889 Comer June 10, 1958 2,883,824 Andrews et a1. Apr. 28, 1959 2,914,905 Andrews et a1. Dec. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,217,494 France Dec. 7, 1959 809,606 Great Britain Feb. 25, 1959 809,946 Great Britain Mar. 4,, 1959 

1. IN A TWISTING MACHINE HAVING A SPINDLE DRIVING BELT HAVING FRONT AND REAR DRIVING SURFACES AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID BELT, THE COMBINATION WITH SAID BELT OF A FALSE TWIST SPINDLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MOUNTING MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE FIXED ON SAID MACHINE ADJACENT SAID BELT, A SINGLE FALSE TWIST SPINDLE PIVOTALLY POSITIONED ON SAID MEMBER, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY URGING SAID SPINDLE INTO DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FRONT OR REAR SURFACE, AND MEANS OPERABLE TO CONTROL ENGAGEMENT OF SAID SPINDLE WITH EITHER SIDE OF SAID DRIVING BELT. 